Arizona Young Artists’ Competition 2026

We are thrilled to have you join the legacy of young artists who are seeking enriching educational opportunities. Through the Arizona Young Artists’ Competition, our diverse, burgeoning creative community is given the opportunity to compete in the disciplines of Modern/Contemporary Dance, Classical Voice, Musical Theatre Voice, and Acting.  This competition enables young Arizona artists to experience the audition process and garner productive feedback and pertinent experience through an adjudication process led by highly esteemed arts professionals.

After the preliminary auditions, four finalists will be chosen from each discipline. These artists will be given the chance to astonish our panel of respected judges in our Arizona Young Artists’ Showcase and vie for an opportunity to bring home a $1500 first prize scholarship awarded to the winner of each discipline.

At the Showcase, audience members will also be asked to vote for their favorite performer in all four categories to win the People’s Choice Award and take home a $100.00 prize.

• All applicants are asked to submit a headshot to ayacherberger@gmail.com, at least a week before your audition. The photo must be a tightly cropped photo of the face, from the shoulders up. Please include your name and category/categories you are auditioning for in the email. This does not have to be a formal headshot, but we ask that it be clear, to aid our adjudicators in facial recognition. If you do not email a headshot, you must bring three headshots with you to your audition.
• There is a $25.00 registration fee to audition per category.
• Deadline to register: April 4th, 2026

Please read the following audition instructions for your selected discipline carefully.

Acting Auditions:
MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2026 | 5:00-9:00 p.m.

IMPORTANT: Please email the title, character, and playwright for both of your monologue selections to Amber Robins, (ayacherberger@gmail.com). Make sure to state your full name in your email.

Classical Voice Auditions:
TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2026 | 5:00-9:00 p.m.

IMPORTANT: Please email a PDF of your music to Mark Fearey (mtofearey@gmail.com) and Amber Robins (ayacherberger@gmail.com). Make sure to state your full name in the email as well as the titles of your selections, year each was composed, and the composer and lyricist names.

Musical Theatre Voice Auditions:
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2026 | 4:00-9:00 p.m.

IMPORTANT: Please email a PDF of your music to Mark Fearey (mtofearey@gmail.com) and Amber Robins (ayacherberger@gmail.com). Make sure to state your full name in the email as well as the titles of your selections, year each was composed, and the composer and lyricist names.

Dance Auditions:
THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2026 | 5:00-9:00 p.m.

IMPORTANT: Please email the song title, the singer, the composer, and the choreographer to Amber Robins (ayacherberger@gmail.com). Make sure to state your full name in your email. Also, send your *music to Amber Robins (ayacherberger@gmail.com) and to sound@herbergertheater.org. Do not send a YouTube video.

*We will also need to make sure your music is covered under ASCAP or BMI so the sooner you send your music choice the better. If your selection is not covered under these organizations, we will need proof that you are permitted to use the composition.

MANDATORY AVAILABILITY:

• Lighting/Spacing Rehearsal for ALL DANCE competitors: April 10th at 4:00 p.m. Each dancer will receive 20-30 minutes to light & space their piece.
• Dress Rehearsal for ALL FINALISTS: April 11th at 1:00 p.m.
• Final Performance & Evening Awards Show for ALL FINALISTS: April 11th at 7:00 p.m.

Note: If you cannot attend ALL of the applicable events listed above, we will not be able to accept your application.

All auditions and performances will occur in downtown Phoenix at the Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix, AZ 85004 in Stage West.

For more information contact:

Cescily Washington Wiener, M.Ed., Dir. of Community Engagement
602-254-7399x 106
cwiener@herbergertheater.org

Amber Robins, Community Engagement Assoc.
602-254-7399x 104
arobins@herbergertheater.org

Thank You To Our 2026 Sponsors!

Debra & Jim Larson

Mike Parrish